Link for hydraulic turbines



Nov. 25, 1930. a. A. BIGGS LINK FOR HYDRAULIC TURBINES Filed Feb. 13, 1929 5 fiofye I Patented Nov 25, 1930 disease A. measles?"calmer,' MAssAoEUsnTTs; nssiel von ro Robust? minim.-

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"Application filedi lgfebruarj 132 19291: Serial no. ame.

i This invention relates to the controlling mechanism of hydraulic turbines, "rotary pH-mp8, and rotary blowers-particulfarlyre gardin'g that part of the mechanism known as the lin'k which connects the swing gate to the gate controlling ring. 1 The objects ofmyinventionare to provid a more 'durable connection between the gate the gate controlling'cring; to provide a less-expensive connection between the gate and gate controlling ringgto provide a gate dontrolling "mechanism thatcan be op- 1 erated with a lessamount of energy; to provide a fink that. WiH nQt fluitter or"vibrate in thefiowingwater; to provide 215 gate'con'troh lin g' mechanism which w'i ll'maintain a fi ner degree of uniformrtyin the 'spaclng between consecutive gates; to re'ducethe wear where. the link is attachedto the gate; to provide link which canb'e kept= lubricated at the gate connection and to provide a link which.

will offer less" obstruction to the water enter ing the spacebetween gates. i Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawingsiniwhich a L x l Fig lis a plan of a turbine gate showing the manner of connecting the gate with the controlling ring;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the lower part of a turbine taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and a Fig. 3 is a perspective" view of therlink by itself.

In this typeof turbine, theturbine shaft has mounted upon it therunner whichis surrounded by a gate casing consisting of a crown plate D and a base E. Between the in ner surfaces of these members movable gates A are mounted on pivots. B. Each gate is connected-to thegate operating ringD by a link G.

their respective-stationarypivots B in order to admita greater or lesser amountof fluid i to. the central" part of the turbine. The

movement of the gates to and fro is accomplished by connecting each gate separately thatwhen the ring 1') sa e was right ward limit, the gates are open wide and when tween consecutive gates is reduce-(1%:

In existing designs, it has been customary to drive or cast a pin inthe gate in place of the stein withits end] projecting downward beyond" the endofth e gate to receive -a link which enerally consists of a bar more or less rounded at the ends and, with a hble drilled near each end,"oIie tofit the abeve menmoved'toit s leftward limit, the openingbe gate ring. This. kind oiccnstruction leaves an openjoint correspondingto the position shown in FigLB; Abrasive mattei carried in; suspension in the fluid becomes deposited": in

this joint and wearsboth the pin andlink, re

sulting lost mdtionyvibration and nonuniform spacing between gates. Whenthe bearin surfacesxgbecome thus orn, the gates are more difficult to} operate and-, vibration e and wearingtakejpla'ce with increasingra= pidity. By; my invention I eliminate an these difficulties as willappeam the link 0 new stem N which, preferably;

form's integralpartof the link itself. The

steIfi N is machine finished'w fit-the no thegate A; Itfw'ill benoted tuarthgr eis I noted that entirel eliminated? Furthermore,"thethole i for the pin Iis d epest its top; which elimi: I

nates; any possibility of abrasive substance entering the jointaround'it. t i s i Abrasive atters seek a low level in the" fluid, conse "uefitly there is notendefie for them tolwo k upward into the-joint. It will be further 5 noted that the length of the stem N is relativelyiorigz; This issoas to provide p along bearihgthat will more definitelyniain The gates A each rotate apartialturn on ta'in alateral positionfor' the bodyej t e link relative to the axis time gate." I cdnsider with good results. Bymaking thestem long,

its position pfarallel :withthe axisof the: grate is maintained; and. all. tension compression stresses such as would otherwise be evident are eliminated and the stress reduced to purely shearing, the tendency being to shear the stem N off the body at J. Furthermore, by making the stem N relatively long (within reasonable limits) more hearing surface is provided and consequently wearing is reduced.

By making the stem relatively long, whereby the lateral position of the body of the link is definitely maintained relative to the axis of the stem, the tendency for the body to flutter or vibrate is entirely eliminated, whereas in existing designs when. the bearing around the end of the pin becomes worn so as to allow'the link to get loose it will flutter or vibrate due to the current of fluid flowing past the link. Furthermore, a link connection of this design is less expensive than where a separate stem. is used because it is much easier to fit a stem to a hole for a bearingthan to make a pin for satisfactory fit. Also by my inventioncthe cost of drilling an extra hole in the link is eliminated. Another feature that is desirable is the small height of the body of the link as shown at (),.Fig. 2. By this feature the body of the link C can also be made thinner so as not to seriously obstruct the flowing fluid, whereas in existing designs it is necessary to make 0' greater to provide suflicient bearing area around the pin. V

Another valuable'feature which is provided by my invention is the possibility of maintaining a lubricated bearing where the stem N fits the hole in the gate. It will be observed in Fig. 2 that the hole extends somewhat above the top of the stem N forming a cavity at P. A plug is provided at Q which may be removed occasionally for the purpose of'injecting grease or other lubricating substance into the cavity P. Grease or other lubricating substance forced. into this cavity will penetrate the clearancespace between the stem and the hole, allowing the stem to work with greater ease.

Furthermore, since grease is of lower specific gravity than water its tendency is to seek a higher elevation when surrounded by Water, therefore in this case the tendency is for the grease to stay up in the bearing, keeping it lubricated indefinitely. Also the hearing at I is protected by a cover M over the top which in a similar manner retains the grease and prevents abrasive matter from entering the bearing. The cover M may be attached to the link by means of screws R or the hole I may be covered by any other suitable means. 7

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. A link consisting of a body, and a stem combined with said body to form an integral member, said body having a hole therein with means for covering said hole, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with an oscillatable gate for a turbine, of an operating link therefor having a long vertical upwardly extending integral stem, the gate having a vertical hole in the bottom for said stem, whereby the bearing surface is comparatively near the center ofthe gate, vertically, to reduce vibration and fluttering.

3. The combination with an oscillatable gate for a turbine, of an operating link therefor having a long vertical upwardly extending integral stem, the gate having a vertical hole in the bottom for said stem, whereby the bearing surface is comparatively near the center of the gate, vertically, to reduce vibration and fluttering, said link having an enlarged portion at the bottom of the stem having a flat imperforated top to receive the bottom of the gate, for the purpose described. 4. The combination with an oscillatable gate for a turbine, of an operating link therefor having a long vertical upwardly extendingintegral stem, the gate having a vertical hole in the bottom for said stem, whereby the bearing surface is comparatively near the center of the gate, vertically, to reduce vibration and fluttering, each gate having a hole'in the bottom for receiving the stem with a close fit, said hole being longer than the stem, and means for introducing a lubricant into the holeabove the top of the stem.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE A. BIGGS. 

